Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-06-01

THE FOURTH OF JULY.
General Master Workman PoWderly's :
Timely Letter to the Knights
of Labor,


For several years the practice Of holding
demonstrat ons and celebrations on the Fourth
of July has been dying out. The old and the
middle-aged are forgetting that ON the fourth
day of July, l776, nation was born and gov
ernment was inaugurated which differed from
the governments and nations Of the earth, tnas-
much as it was to be a nation and government
to be composed OF the whole people, to be man.
aged ana controlled by the whole people aud
the intention was TINT those who served the
people as public officers were to act for the whole
people.
Even while the Declaration OF Independence
was being read, the struggle for libertyfor free
speech for free free Reople, n, and free .; county
throughout the length and breadth of the
United Colonies was an established fact
For years the citizens OF the republic were
accustomed to meet on each succeeding Fourth
Of July and celebrate the event which pro.
claimed nation born. For years the dongs of
those who erected the proud structure on which
our Government rests were told and retold In
Each Fourth Of July saw the citizens Of ths
Republic eathercd eehsr untSss~ oa1v
square, and. amid the booming of cannon and
beating Of drums, awakened memories Of the
days that tried mons souls.
The speaker of the day told how the power
Of king gave way Mt the command of the peo-
pie. Or. IL no speaker could be had. one Of the
cele5rants read to the assembled multitude the
Declaration Of Independence.
Old men among us can recall such incidents
as these, but they fast forgetting how 10
was done or what it was for. and tho young
people are not taught to respect or celebrate
the day.
Such condition Of affairs is wrong and un-
patriotic.
Tbcro is one portion OF our country's populn-
tion that should never cease to remember that
they, above all others. should celebrate the
fourth day OF July and keep alive tho memo
ries which it recalls. Those who gain large for.
tunes, those who acquire lar 20 tracts Of land in
the country, and who own blocks Of bui ings
in our cities. are not the ones who celebrate, or
caro- to celebrate, that day which gave to the
world nation whose strength lay In her COM
mon people. 1t belongs, therefore. to the ones
who have not gained the most and Jared the
best under our Government. TO the common
people. to kindle once more and keep forever
alive the memories Of the struggle which do.
throned the king in royal robes and enthroned
tho sovereign in hornespun-- which discarded
and spat upon tho scepter OF a monarch and
honored and exalted the hammer and ploW-
handle of tho man OF toll.
Two classes, representing diverse feelings and
interests, would have the com mon people forget
that we have country or flag. The monopo-
list and the anarchist care nothing for Ameri-
can liberty or institutions The former, having
accumulated an immense fortune, would hail
with delight king and O strong government,
nnd1 is hopeful OF a change in that direction.
The latter has either lost hope in our institu-
history, and would destroy both the good and
the bad I'm them To make way for the rule cf
nobody and nothing.
Monopoly and anarchy are twin evils. The
latter, by attempting to overturn all law and
order because some Of our laws are not properly
administered, would give to the former the
pretext for the establishment Of strong
Government Monarchy before anarchy would
then be tho cry. The watchword OF the peo-
pie should be: Neither monopoly nor anarchy
shall rule in this country--1oth must 90. Men
who labor by hand or brain lnak0np two-thirds
of our voting population. Two-thirds Of the
voters can. II they are honest, patriotic. and
vigilant, vote good men into Office, and good
men, II properly wstched and assisted by the
people, will make and enforce good laws. It
follows that, il there is anything wrong In tho
affairs Of State or nation, we. the people, are to
threaten to break up the Government because
OF our own neglect What, then. Is our duty?
What is the duty OF the knights Of Labor in
particular? 1t is to study the principles on
which our Government is based and teach
others what we have learned.
therefore recommend that on next Fourth
of July the Numbers OF the order. where there
il an assembly in existence, hold deInonstra-
tions and celebrations in honor OF the birth Of .
y ople's government.
If other societies intend TO celebrate. the
Knights can join in; II no other society will
celebrate then tho Knights should celebrate BY
a means In localities where puplic demon
stration would cause some liberty. hating en-
pIoyer to discharge his wor men, would ad-
wise that no risks be teken. Join In with other
citizens In gettin., up celebrAtions. Secure .
speak r TO deliver q short address. II NO speak
or can be had, secure good reader TO read this
Declaration of Amer can Independence. In tho
line Of march and on your stands and public
places use only one fag-the stars ana stripes.
Sow to the world that no matter where the
knight OF Labor citizen was born be respects
and honors the United States nag. Show TO tho
world that we are determined to hnd out what
is wrong in our system Of government and thAt
we are equally determined TO right such
wrongs as may axist, BY peaceful, legitimate
meaEs
ton OF the peoples lands 70 the care Of the peo-
,,le te discussed. Pass resolutions declaring
that the holding OF from fifty to sixty millions
of acres OF the public domain by aliens is sinful
and nn- American Go further. and demand that
tho alien lnndiord shall let so his hold.
Pass resolutions declaring that every aore o1
is 3" acre stolen ana and .hss the sIss s.
required TO make restitution 70 the people.
Pass resolutions never to take your eyes Oh
the land unit. one gPodi plain; 9; simple a. honest
tho holder be rich or cor, individual or cof-
poration. Make tho lnnd for the people, under
the peoples Laws, tho question Of the day. y
was not for air, sunshine or wAtcr alone thAt
our fathers fought; II was for the land, and Ne
must hold this land fEse from the shark and
speculator, whether native or allen.
This ID no political aluestion; II 10 . national,
a patriotic question, and must b understood
DO not fear the tAunts or ridicuis OF any mon
or set Of men. Let those who fssl 70 Disposed
M Yankee M Ds osiieisn. il sa,sr chcoss. Givs
them to understand that We are u earnest, and
that wo prefer eagleisan 70 indtdsTenoe.
that tbs winga Of the sA9le shatt hsroaf1eg
spread over : nation of free men md wonn,
who own the land W Hive IN: thAk ~ wings q
ss ss y ia az. arasa e sess 6 e III ~
DO not S.rgst % csIsinate Il ! hseqnan3. ~.
ssa ssssasT ea1s1 = sss sss a
fosmstian 4 q ceIisdl!es = 80 -